Releases 'Women of Wonder – Catalyst of Change’’, an inspiring collection of stories of rural
women
Senior officials from Indus Towers, Vodafone Idea and Solidaridad felicitated the women
beneficiaries for their contribution to society
For an agricultural country like India, the persistent threat of drought casts a shadow over the livelihoods of
farmers. But today in heartlands of Madhya Pradesh, Devli has emerged as a beacon of hope, who has
turned parched lands into flourishing farms deploying smart IOT devices as part of Indus-supported
Vodafone Idea’ SmartAgri programme. Equally inspiring is Sita Prajapat’s story. Once grappling with
financial strains from her small pottery and catering business, Sita has today found her path to financial
stability and is now mentoring over 50 women to find their financial independence. These women embody
the catalyst of change, who refused to give up in the face of hardships and have emerged victorious,
leaving a lasting impact in their communities.
Stories of several such women are put together in Vodafone Idea’s special publication ‘Women of Wonder-
Catalyst of Change’ which was released during a special event organised as part of International Women’s
Day celebrations. Poonam Shroti, Founder of Uddip Social Welfare Society, also graced the event and
highlighted the importance of rural women entrepreneurship and the opportunities it presents.
The publication features stories of such change-makers from across the country and showcases how
technology is truly transforming lives in rural India. Through the coming together of innovative programmes
and digital tools, women have harnessed the power of tech to access vital information, education
resources, and access to markets. Their stories also underscore the profound cascading effect which
technological led empowerment can bring to communities.
Supported by Indus Towers, Vodafone Idea Foundation’s SmartAgri program has been working with
women farmers across the country, empowering them with technology and enabling them to become
decision makers in their own right. The SmartAgri programme has strived to advance agriculture by
empowering thousands of women farmers, who are traditionally marginalized in the sector.
Utilising cutting-edge technologies like IoT, AI and real-time data analysis, providing data-driven insights on
soil health, weather patterns, pest control and market prices, the SmartAgri programme has been helping
farmers make informed decisions, optimize resource usage and improve yield.
The programme has been beneficial for women farmers particularly, as they now have easy access to
information and resources in their preferred language. This helps them overcome challenges, increase
productivity and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities they live in.
Anjali Hans, Executive Vice President, Regulatory, CSR & External Communications Head –
Vodafone Idea Limited, emphasized the Foundation's commitment to empowering women through
technology. She stated, “As a woman, I believe that ‘Invest in women’ is a powerful call to action. It calls for
enabling women with the tools for a better life and believing in their potential to make change happen. At Vi
Foundation, we harness its power to bridge the digital divide, equipping marginalized communities,
especially women, with the tools they need to succeed in their lives. In line with the country’s agenda of
‘Nari Shakti’ our transformative initiatives act as an enabler to improve the quality of lives for millions of
women. Our efforts have been recognised by all stakeholders and the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi took
special interest in understanding the impacts of the efforts at the India Mobile Congress.”
Vi Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering women across India and enabling them
for a better future.
